Letters to the Editor - March 14, 2014

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Lulu

What a mean-spirited, ugly vituperative letter Mr. Allen wrote. He must be so happy, secure in the knowledge he's inheriting the kingdom. I hope, in the end, when the final trumpet sounds, God--or whomever is calling the shots--informs ALL people they're welcome in Heaven. Guess who'll be wearing the frowny face?

10:15 am - Sat, March 15 2014

David

The Scripture reads from Matthew 7:21-23.True Disciples21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ NLT

There is a judgment coming and decisions to make now.Hebrews 9:27-28.27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. NLT

Romans 3:23.23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. NLT

So we are instructed to repent and turn from our sinful ways and to live holy lives acceptable to God and to watch for His coming.

Peace,

David

08:54 pm - Tue, March 18 2014

David

Here's a follow up to Saturday's post.

From 2 Peter 1:2-11

2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Growing in Faith3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10 So, dear brothers and sisters,[c] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. NLT

Peace, David

01:36 pm - Thu, March 20 2014

Lulu

And if their faith is insufficient, you can always stone them to death.What a joyful religion.

08:44 am - Fri, March 21 2014

David

Jesus changed everythiing.

John 8 New Living Translation (NLT)

A Woman Caught in Adultery8 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

David

Jesus taught His disciples how to treat their enemies.

Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

Teaching about Love for Enemies43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’[r] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies![s] Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends,[t] how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT)

David

04:41 pm - Sun, March 23 2014

David

Oh yes dear Lulu, a reason to be joyful and thankful:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NLT)

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NLT)

So please find peace in Jesus. "Come back to God!" (NLT)

David

10:38 am - Mon, March 24 2014

Lulu

You know what I wonder about? Consider all the people throughout history who have given their lives for someone else. Doesn't that make them just as great as Jesus? Let's face it: you die only once.David, your religion, along with so many others, has been responsible for heinous, reprehensible acts. Why would you care if I reject it? Just be happy with your own choice.And I prefer not to spend eternity in heaven with Jerry Allen.

10:06 am - Tue, March 25 2014

David

Jesus said to His disciples at the Last Supper...John 15:13..13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (KJV)If we do that, we become like Jesus, but we cannot be as great as Jesus, because Jesus is God. Up to this point, dear Lulu, I have responded with Scripture; however, now you are asking questions that I have to answer through my faith. I believe that Jesus (Yeshua) is God. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. That puts Him in a whole different category than just man. Jesus (in world history) was sinless, and He was illegally and unjustly arrested, tried, convicted, beaten, scourged, and crucified for witnessing for whom He is (I Am). He was a sacrifice for your sins and mine. He took our sins upon Himself on that Cross and gave us His righteousness. God the Father resurrected Jesus so the power of death could be overcome. Through Jesus we can have Eternal Life and be part of His spiritual Kingdom. No other way can provide this. We die once, then there is judgment, and if we die in Jesus we don't experience the second death which is spiritual death. I believe the First Resurrection is Jesus, and we participate in that Resurrection when we become a new creation in Him. Romans 6:11...11 "So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." (NLT)Revelation 20:6...6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power," (KJV)

That is part of my faith in God's Word.

David

03:26 pm - Tue, March 25 2014

David

Lulu, I agree that most if not all religions are responsible for heinous, reprehensible acts. Most religions are the traditions of man. The Hebrew religious leaders were the ones who killed Jesus with the help from the Roman executioners. Those Jews didn't even recognize their own Messiah. I would advise you to reject religion, but don't reject Jesus.What is better than religion is a relationship with God through Jesus. That is what I am seeking, that relationship. I think that God's intention from the beginning was to have communion and fellowship with man, but man and satan messed it up; so God sent Himself, a Redeemer, His Son Jesus to reconcile mankind to Himself. So we have a choice; to follow God or not to follow God. I shall be happy with my choice.Will you be happy with yours?

Peace, David

06:35 pm - Tue, March 25 2014

kona

David,Would it be presumptuous to ask if you believe that God represents the natural order of the universe?

07:47 am - Wed, March 26 2014

David

Hi Kona, No, it would not be presumptuous to ask. I believe that God created the universe and the natural order of the universe.What I need to know is what exactly you define as "the natural order of the universe".What exactly does that represent?

11:52 am - Wed, March 26 2014

kona

The "natural order" was set in motion by some force which can be defined as God or any other named force. The "natural order" was the effect of this original happening. The "natural order" after that original force has not been influenced by any super natural force (a god, etc.) but has evolved from event to event. This belief is opposed to a belief that there is a god that micromanages everything (the good, bad and the ugly).

01:19 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

David

Does this belief suggest that through evolution all that has happened since the "beginning" (a term which neither of us has defined as of yet) is just by chance? And that after that original event that started the whole thing there has been enough energy or power placed into that system to continue that "natural order" up to this point in history without adding more energy to the system? Like setting a spinning top in motion that never stops spinning? Like a perpetual motion machine?

02:53 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

kona

Yes, the "beginning" was the event sometimes called "the big boom" in which everything was set in motion. The "big boom" can be defined/labled as any force including an act of God. The difference in what has happened since that time is whether, or not, events after that time have been manipulated by a super natural force, or if that event has been left to following random actions?

03:22 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

kona

Actually, the latter suggestion is not correct, " Like setting a spinning top in motion that never stops spinning? Like a perpetual motion machine?"

The Earth as well as the sun are slowly cooling and are not like "a spinning top", nor "perpetual motion".

03:42 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

David

Kona, we have highjacked this blog. Congratulations!

So the earth and the sun are cooling (does that mean there is no global warming?) and all the initial "creative" energy that started the universe in motion happened long ago and no further energy has gone into the system to keep it going; so eventually it will slow down or cool down? Or... is there a continual source of energy put into the "natural order" that keeps it going, and if there is that source of energy, where does it come from? Where is its source of origin?After the "big boom" is there something interfering with events or do things just happen randomly? Do you think the source of sustaining energy has ended and the "natural order" is coasting to an eventual end and that the process is all random with no thing or being (god or supreme being) directing its course? Does it all eventually just fizzle out?

07:46 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

kona

You asked, "So the earth and the sun are cooling (does that mean there is no global warming?) and all the initial "creative" energy that started the universe in motion happened long ago and no further energy has gone into the system to keep it going; so eventually it will slow down or cool down?"

Yes.

You asked, " Or... is there a continual source of energy put into the "natural order" that keeps it going, and if there is that source of energy, where does it come from?"

No.

You asked, "After the "big boom" is there something interfering with events or do things just happen randomly?"

I believe that it is random.

You asked, "Do you think the source of sustaining energy has ended and the "natural order" is coasting to an eventual end and that the process is all random with no thing or being (god or supreme being) directing its course?

Yes.

You asked, "Does it all eventually just fizzle out?"

Yes, solar systems "fizzle out". Our sun will "fizzle out". We won't be here to see it happen, however.

09:06 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

David

So... here we are in this random universe that is slowly declining with no direction from a supreme being. What is our purpose or reason for being here? Do you have any thoughts about that?

10:29 pm - Wed, March 26 2014

kona

You asked, "What is our purpose or reason for being here?"

Our purpose for being here is whatever each individual decides is their purpose. And that is all. We are not going to change anything from the macro situation. We can change our micro situation and the effect (good and bad) on future generations. That is a very small thing in the "big picture". Our slice of universal history is extremely limited.

Our "reason for being here?", is whatever we want it to be. And, there could easily be no "reason for being here". Not any differently than the reason that Mars or Venus is here.

09:44 am - Thu, March 27 2014

Lulu

I believe the reason we're here is to act in a decent, honorable way and to be remembered, occasionally, with affection. Not because we expect to wear a crown and sit on clouds.

11:42 am - Thu, March 27 2014

WorkingforaLiving

Lulu,

Perfect!

06:55 pm - Thu, March 27 2014

David

WorkingforaLiving,

Is your response an "amen" to Lulu's remarks? Or are you being facetious?

05:37 am - Fri, March 28 2014

WorkingforaLiving

David,

I'm in complete agreement with Lulu and thought her response was short and right on. I care about the character and kindness of people and respect a person's right to belief or worship how they please. We are all different and have our own ideas.

So, no, I was not being facetious - it was meant as a compliment.

10:16 am - Fri, March 28 2014

David

WorkingforaLiving,

Okay. Thank you.

04:33 pm - Fri, March 28 2014

kona

David,

I would be interested in your thoughts about my last comment.

06:57 pm - Fri, March 28 2014

David

Sheesh... I typed in my remarks and didn't re-enter my password and the whole thing went off into cyber space. So I'll do it again.

David

09:26 am - Sat, March 29 2014

kona

That is too bad. It is always difficult and frustrating to duplicate the original. Sorry.

09:58 am - Sat, March 29 2014

David

Hi kona, I agree with you that our purpose or reason is ultimately what we decide or want or choose it to be. I am thankful that we live in a country that allows us enough freedom to have those choices. And I hope that we don’t ever loose that freedom. I agree that individually most of us have a very small effect on the total scheme of things, but we can have a tremendous effect on our own circle of influence; i.e. family, friends, school, work, shopping, driving, blogging, etc. So instead of having no reason or purpose like being a rock (Mars or Venus), I hope that we all can identify with, or belong to, or adhere to practices of healthy living, moral social values, compassion for one another (love), and a host of other social attributes that would have a positive contribution to the souls around us. And as you can gather from my previous posts I have a healthy belief in God as Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Ruler of all that is, was, or shall be. And I have strong faith in God’s Word, the Bible. Everywhere I look I see evidence of God’s existence. I believe that there is life after death, and I want to be part of that in the presence of God and forever more. I found this experience answering Lulu’s remarks with Scripture a study and a tribute to my faith. I had never done that before. In fact I have never been involved in a conversation online before. It has been stimulating. Thank you.

By the way, I saw the Noah movie yesterday. It was not too strictly biblical and very entertaining. Don’t miss it.

Peace,

David

10:29 am - Sat, March 29 2014

David

I think there is a time limit to post a comment, and since I'm such a lousy typist I took too long. So I finally typed for the third time in an email and copied and pasted and it went through.

10:32 am - Sat, March 29 2014

kona

Thank you for your comments. Different perspectives are enriching. I agree with your sense of purpose. I think it is so important for a person to cultivate their life in a positive direction which can be defined in many ways.

10:58 am - Sat, March 29 2014

kona

David,

You said, " Ruler of all that is, was, or shall be." Does that mean that you believe there is a super power (God) that micro-manages the "good, bad and the ugly"? Or, is the "good, bad and the ugly" controlled by mankind and the acts of nature?

03:07 pm - Sat, March 29 2014

kona

Or, is God embodied in "mankind and the acts of nature"?

03:20 pm - Sat, March 29 2014

David

My copy and paste routine is not working. I'll keep trying.

07:54 pm - Sat, March 29 2014

David

kona, I expected by using the term “Ruler” that I would hear from you again. I used “Ruler” as the term indicates ultimate authority. You have heard of the Kingdom of God. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (KJV). Well.. the Kingdom has a King. Jesus is referred to as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Ultimate Supreme Authority. None other higher…ruler. Jesus said, “All power is given me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18 (KJV)I don’t believe that God “micro-manages” events here on earth. He creates and He gives us choices. He creates each time a baby is conceived to become another living soul. The choices we make determine who we become. Nature on the other hand continues with order by the laws of nature and physics. Nature can’t make choices. It just responds to the forces that it is exposed to. Rain comes down (not up), flows through streams and rivers to the seas and lakes, evaporates, condenses, then rains again. Our hearts beat, blood flows and delivers nutrients to our cells which live then reproduce then die then live again, etc. There is order to this (nature). God created that way, but God doesn’t micro-manage every “good, bad, and ugly” because He made it (nature) so well and with such detail that it pretty much works on its own.God in the Holy Spirit is embodied in mankind because man is potentially a spiritual being. But nature is not a spiritual being. Nature has no choice. Nature does as natural laws dictate. Nature does glorify God, however, because God is nature’s Creator. God is revealed in nature.Here’s a thought… God knew before we were even a “twinkling in our parents’ eyes” that we would have this conversation and in this manner. God knows all. He knows who are His, and He knows who shall be His. Please don’t ask me to explain that. That’s a faith statement for you to think about.

Peace,

David

07:57 pm - Sat, March 29 2014

kona

I think we are in agreement in many ways. You said, "He made it (nature) so well and with such detail that it pretty much works on its own."

Whatever the title that one wants to give the "originator" (God, as you prefer) the universe was set in motion and "pretty much works on its own". And with a little imagination and science, there is the possibility of life on many planets similar to Earth that have been set in motion.

You said, "because man is potentially a spiritual being". What does that mean and what is the advantage to being a "spiritual being"? Does that enable a person to be other than "Earth to Earth and dust to dust"? There is the thought by many that to "live on in the spirit" is for your memory and life to be passed on to future generations and the life well lived is rewarded by the positive influence of the future. A person is "chosen in the spirit" by the manner in which he/she lived his/her life on Earth. The memory (or spirit) is not physical by nonetheless an important reflection on the physical being.

08:56 pm - Sat, March 29 2014

Lulu

The way you describe him, God sounds suspiciously like Santa Claus: "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows..." etc. So, if you're good, and don't cry or pout or shout, there will be presents galore under the tree.In the same way, if you're good, there will be the GREAT gift at the end of the journey, as opposed to lying in a box in the cold, cold ground.Sounds like micro-managing to me to guarantee everyone behaves.

12:29 pm - Sun, March 30 2014

David

kona, Defining spirituality is a tough one. We could go on about that for a long time. I don’t know if I’m up for the task at this point. However…. I found a website that could really help give one some insight. I Googled “spirituality” and found this article http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/nee/sprtmnv1/1968v1c1.htm and backed up to the home page and found this. http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/nee/sprtmnv1/1968cont.htm . The article differentiates body, soul, and spirit. Lots of information at the website. I hope these links work for you. If not I think you could type in the URLs. J

With all due respect, do you prefer to spell your name with a lower case “k”? Or do you prefer a capital “K”? I picked up the lower case thing from this blog.

Peace,

David

04:27 pm - Sun, March 30 2014

David

Lulu, Welcome back to the pack. Remember about our choices.

And there is also a gift from God called “Grace”. Defined as “the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings”.

The micro-managing comes from religion, the traditions of man, and legalism. God gives us choices. God’s gifts are free, and those gifts don’t always come at the end. Some come now, in the present. The one I personally am looking forward to, however, is Eternal Life in the presence of God. One must only believe in Him, God the Father; Jesus, the Son of God; and the Holy Spirit. Trust, honor, love, and profess God, and love each other as ourselves.

God is love. Love is good.

David

05:14 pm - Sun, March 30 2014

kona

I will look at the websites mentioned. What are you suggesting has eternal life? Anything physical, or is it just the spirit, or soul? I would think that this would be an easy answer. Also, an easy answer why you would want your spirit or soul to have eternal life.

05:19 pm - Sun, March 30 2014

kona

It makes no difference, "kona" or "Kona". I appreciate your responses.

07:39 am - Mon, March 31 2014

Lulu

I never left the pack: I was wandering in the wilderness.So if I am Jewish, where do you believe I go after croaking?

09:22 am - Mon, March 31 2014

David

Kona, Defining eternal life is not easy either, I’ll try to shed some light on the subject. That website I sent the link to, “The Spiritual Man”, was a good find. Spiritual concepts are hard to grasp let alone define. The author gives a real clear explanation of the differentiation of body, soul, and spirit. I’ve never heard it explained that way before. I’m looking forward to reading it all. So far I’ve read through chapter 4.

Mankind, both women and men, has eternal life. After death our spirit goes back to God. I don’t know how all that works, but the Bible promises eternal life, and I believe that even in death we still live. I don’t know where that life is. In Heaven? In Hell? When Jesus returns as promised in Scripture to resurrect and judge mankind, He will bring those spirits back with Him and re-unite those spirits with incorruptible resurrected bodies that come from the grave. At that time there are some who haven’t died yet, and they get their incorruptible bodies in an instant, in “a twinkling of the eye”. Those folks who in the flesh chose to follow Jesus go with Him.

01:46 pm - Mon, March 31 2014

David

Those who chose not to follow Him don’t go with Him. I’ve read that that place apart from Jesus is “Hell”. Some think going to Hell is annihilative, total destruction. Some say it is separation from God for eternity, never ending. So one possibly can have eternal life either with God or separated from God. And that eternal state for those with God is in an incorruptible body that has been re-united with its spirit. That eternal state could be in Hell too. That determination is made by Jesus, the judge, and based upon our decision to follow Him or not.

Jews and Gentiles both make this decision, either consciously or unconsciously. My choice is to follow Jesus.

The Bible promises a new heaven and earth with no sin, or pain, or sickness, or dying, and that God will dwell there (earth) with mankind. I’d like to be there with God. Far better than being in Hell.

David

01:48 pm - Mon, March 31 2014

kona

Thank you. So the suggestion is that a person will physically be in heaven on earth? Even those who have been cremated etc.? Or, will just their spirit be in heaven with "no sin, or pain, or sickness, or dying"?

The part I don't understand is why a "just" God would put mankind through the many tortures of life here on Earth just to find the ones who would worship him/her? It sounds a little egocentric. What does God do to those never exposed to Christianity? There have been thousands of those even before Jesus was born and many after.

04:07 pm - Mon, March 31 2014

Lulu

Good point, Kona.David--just answer yes or no: Is there a place at your bountiful table in paradise for a Jewish person? Again, yes or no.

08:52 am - Tue, April 1 2014

David

Lulu,Yes

10:12 am - Tue, April 1 2014

David

Kona,

Ones spirit re-united with an incorruptible body resurrected from the dirt, the fishes’ bellies, or the ashes of cremation. Not a problem for God to put all that together again. This dwelling place will be on earth. Remember “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” (KJV) So God has that covered too.

Your question about God’s “justness” is one maybe you should ask Him. Answering that could be above my “pay grade”.

Peace,

David

08:35 pm - Tue, April 1 2014

kona

David,

You said, "Your question about God’s “justness” is one maybe you should ask Him. Answering that could be above my “pay grade”."

I would think that would be one of the first question anyone should ask. It is like when "scammers" call you on the phone to try to get your Social Security number and your bank account number. Do you just give the information to them believing that they are actually from your bank? Or, do you ask questions, or better yet, hang up on them? I have seen too many people die in the name of misdirected faith.

02:13 pm - Wed, April 2 2014

kona

Also, wouldn't you agree that you would chose to live your life as you do regardless if there were a "reward" at the end of the rainbow. Or, are you living your life because you think you have a chance of "eternal life"?

02:42 pm - Wed, April 2 2014

David

Kona,

I think the reasons for mankind’s “tortures of life here on Earth” are not God’s doing but man’s doing. It goes back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God’s commands. Everything seemed to be fine until they chose to eat from the wrong tree. God gave man a choice and the choice man took was opposed to God. The results of that initial decision have been passed down through history. I’ve heard it referred to as “Original Sin”

God is just because He is God.

I agree that we should live our lives righteously whether there is reward or not. Scripture states that we cannot do that on our own because of our sin nature. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish our goals in this area. My decision to live righteously is based on my belief that that is the right thing to do. That is the way God intends us to live according to His Word. And it is no easy task because we are all sinners. Eternal life is a free gift from God. Read Romans 8, the whole chapter from the New Living Translation. Go online to biblegateway.com.

Who have you seen die in the name of misdirected faith?

David

04:34 pm - Thu, April 3 2014

David

What are we going to do when our blog gets moved off the page?

04:35 pm - Thu, April 3 2014

kona

David,

You asked, "Who have you seen die in the name of misdirected faith?" I was in small arms infantry in combat. Of course, "misdirected faith" is not a good term that I used. Faith is in the eyes of the beholder. Faith to one person can easily be misdirected in the eyes of another. Faith in one religious experience can easily be "misdirected faith" in the eyes of another religion. The problem often is that each religion thinks they have the corner on the correct faith.

I have struggled when I have listened to "Christians" lay claim to their faith primarily for the reward of eternal life. Then later go trophy hunting and killing God's creatures for shear enjoyment of killing God's creatures. Or those who have lived an awful life only in their last moments professed to "be saved" as though that has excused their reprehensible life.

Do you literally believe that Adam and Eve were the first humans on this Earth? And when was that?

06:23 pm - Thu, April 3 2014

David

Kona,

About Adam and Eve:

I believe most Bible believing folks, being either Jewish or Christian, think that Adam and Eve were the first humans. I’ve read Biblical accounts of Creation that claim God created the races of mankind on the “sixth day” (an eon or 24 hour day???), and after a day of rest on the 8th day He created Adam and Eve, a special couple created to provide the bloodline of the Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua). You can check that account out at theseason.org or American Wisdom Series.com. I know that for a long time the Creation story was handed down from generation to generation in story form, word of mouth. Moses was supposedly the 1st to write it down. The idea is that God’s creation, man, was arrogant enough or stupid enough to listen to satan (I usually don’t capitalize the devil’s name) and disobey God and that put the whole human race off track since the beginning.

Those of us who attempt to sincerely change that course who love God and one another and the home God gave us, Earth and its nature, are truly God’s children. There are a lot of hypocritical folks who profess to be good but actually are not. Those folks are sinners and their ilk are the ones Jesus came to save. It’s the bad ones that need regeneration, and Christ provides the Way. I am a sinner, and with the help of the Holy Spirit I’m mending my ways.

Romans 3:23New Living Translation (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Search up that season.org site and read the account of 1 Corinthians. That would be appropriate at this point.

By the way I picked up that you were in combat. If you served in our armed forces, thank you for your service. The discussion of war and its toll on everything is a long and hard subject.

Peace,

David

08:54 pm - Thu, April 3 2014

David

That recommended scripture is 1 Corinthians 15.

08:56 pm - Thu, April 3 2014

kona

You said, "Moses was supposedly the 1st to write it down."

I just question how something could accurately get passed down for thousands of years? If Adam and Eve are accepted as the first humans, that happened thousands of years before Moses. There was no written, nor spoken language for "the first humans. How does your faith bridge this gap. If you say, "it just does", then I find that incredulous.

I don't think I am a "sinner". What is the definition of a sinner? Does the definition vary from religion to religion? Or, from person to person? Or, from different Gods? Is there a basic definition of a "sinner" outside of Christianity? Or is the word "sinner" only a Christian word?

08:01 am - Sat, April 5 2014

Lulu

Wait just a minute: you said original sin began when Adam and Eve--and everyone lays the major blame on her fascination for the snake--ate from the tree of knowledge. Then they were cast out.I would much prefer to eat that apple and discover the intricacies of this world than cavort mindlessly around all day in my birthday suit, blissfully unaware.Lot warned his wife (who, by the way, had no name) not to turn around. But she was curious and became a pillar of salt.I say, quit issuing these dumb orders simply to test someone's obedience.Eat the apple. Turn around. Open your eyes.

10:54 am - Sat, April 5 2014

David

Kona and Lulu,

I think you have most of the answers that you want to believe.So.... good luck and fare thee well.

Shalom,David

01:05 pm - Sun, April 6 2014

kona

That is too bad you are giving up. I was hoping you had better support for your beliefs that might be convincing.

01:46 pm - Sun, April 6 2014

HumblyYours

It seems David could continue to give excellent answers but, as he referenced, a person has to want to believe what s/he has heard. In Christianity there is a necessary element of faith. As my wife told me (before we were married and I was asking her questions similar to Kona and Lulu), "Just try living it as if it is all true and see what happens." That was basically a definition of faith for me and I have been immensely satisfied with my relationship with God and the Bible (His Word) ever since. That was 1982.

04:27 pm - Sun, April 6 2014

kona

The questions asked were not unreasonable and should be able to be answered by any person who places his/her life in the belief. Would you believe a phone call from someone wanting your Social Security number and bank account number just because you had "faith" they were from your bank?

06:11 pm - Sun, April 6 2014

HumblyYours

Kona, I'm just curious when you will hear enough answers that are to your satisfaction to go to that extra step called "faith." There is surely a difference, is there not, between a phone call from someone unknown and a book that has been around for thousands of years, as a reference that stays the same every time you open it? David or I or another could likely continue to give satisfactory answers for perhaps ever.

08:06 pm - Wed, April 9 2014

kona

I am interested in the answers to my questions. It seems that my questions are always evaded. How does that help anyone's "faith" or looking for "faith" when the only answers given are selective answers, while others are completely ignored.

There are many books that have been around "thousands of years", but that doesn't make them the absolute. I understand the human desire for eternal life. I am curious what that "eternal life" represents. Is it real, or is it "spiritual" and why would a person want an eternal spiritual life?

07:41 am - Thu, April 10 2014

kona

"As a consequence of the death and Resurrection of Jesus, Christians can experience eternal life both at the present as well as the future. In both John and Paul the possibility of attaining eternal life and avoiding the wrath of God is dependent on believing in Jesus, the Son of God."

What is the "wrath of God" and why would a just God have a "wrath"? It sounds like a grade school bully problem.

11:07 am - Thu, April 10 2014

David

Kona,

I had to take a break, and I wanted to offer a place to go for all your unanswered questions i.e. spiritual eternal life, a definition of sin, what’s the wrath of God, etc. before resigning. The answers are in the Bible. A great study resource is openbible.info. Click on topical Bible and one can type in questions or topics and get lists of related Bible verses. This site really helps one to find answers to Biblical questions. If you are sincere in you quest, this website can help steer you in the right direction.